Abstract: A direct liquid feed fuel cell stack that includes Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs) and bipolar plates. Each MEA includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode and a cathode, and the MEA is interposed between stacked bipolar plates. Each bipolar plate includes a groove with a predetermined depth enclosing an electrode region on each face of the bipolar plate, and a plurality of fuel flow holes in the electrode region to supply fuel or oxidant to a corresponding fuel channel, with a sealing member being formed on the groove. The direct liquid feed fuel cell stack prevents fuel leakage and useless fuel consumption, thereby providing longer hours of operation.

Abstract: A fuel amount control system of a fuel cell includes a fuel storage unit that stores the fuel to be supplied to the anode, a diluent storage unit that stores a diluent generated as a result of the chemical reaction in the cathode, a fuel mixing unit that mixes the fuel supplied from the fuel storage unit and the diluent supplied from the diluent storage unit to supply a fuel mixture solution to the anode, a sensor located inside the fuel mixing unit, which has a various volume that depends on the concentration of the fuel in the fuel mixture solution and outputs an electrical signal according to a volume variation, and a control unit that receives the electrical signal output from the sensor and outputs electrical signals to open and close the fuel storage unit and the diluent storage unit such that the fuel mixture solution having an appropriate concentration is supplied from the fuel mixing unit to the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A fuel cell including a plurality of unit cells that each includes an anode, an electrolyte membrane, and a cathode. The unit cells are stacked together, such that the unit cells form rows and furrows. The fuel cell can further include an anode frame to support an anode side of the fuel cell stack, and a cathode frame to support a cathode side of the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell can include reinforcing members to support either of the frames.

Abstract: A fuel diffusion unit including: a fuel diffusion plate; a diffusion sheet disposed on fuel diffusion plate, to evenly distribute a fuel to the fuel diffusion plate; a primary transportation unit disposed on the diffusion sheet; secondary transportation units connected to the primary transportation unit, to distribute the fuel to the fuel from the primary transportation unit to the diffusion sheet. The diffusion sheet has a wetting direction that allows the fuel to flow in a predetermined direction. The fuel diffusion unit can be included in a fuel supply unit and a fuel cell system.

Abstract: Provided are a heat recovery apparatus recovering heat generated from a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and transmitting the heat to a fuel spreader so that a temperature difference between the MEA and the fuel spreader inside a fuel cell is reduced, and a fuel cell having the heat recovery apparatus. The fuel spreader supplies fuel having a uniform concentration to the MEA through the heat recovery apparatus, so that a fuel cell having a reduced total volume, a stable performance, and increased energy efficiency can be provided.

Abstract: A hydrogen generator and a fuel cell using the same includes: a first container containing an aqueous solution of alkaline metal carbonate or bicarbonate; a second container containing a metal hydride; and a supply unit disposed between the first container and the second container. The hydrogen generator has a high hydrogen generating rate, can provide a fuel cell with a high energy density, and the amount of hydrogen generated thereby is easy to control.

Abstract: Disclosed is a separator for a fuel cell stack. The separator includes a plate having a first opening and a second opening on a surface thereof. A field or a channel is formed on the surface of the plate. The field has a first end and a second end. A field inlet is formed on the surface of the plate and connects the first end of the field to the first opening, and a field outlet is formed on the surface of the plate and connects the second end of the field to the second opening. An area of a cross-section of the field inlet, which is cut perpendicular to the surface of the plate, is smaller than an area of a cross-section of the field outlet, which is cut perpendicular to the surface of the plate.

Abstract: Provided may be a liquid fuel mixing apparatus and a direct liquid feed fuel cell having the same. The liquid fuel mixing apparatus comprises a liquid fuel tank and a water tank, and a liquid fuel mixer that mixes a liquid fuel supplied from the liquid fuel tank and liquid supplied from water tank, the liquid fuel mixer located to contact the liquid fuel in the liquid fuel. The liquid fuel mixer comprises, a water channel through which the liquid supplied from the water tank may flow, and a liquid fuel permeable membrane, which allows the liquid fuel to penetrate therethrough to the water channel but does not allow water in the water channel to penetrate therethrough to the liquid fuel tank.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack including an electricity generating unit for generating electrical energy by electrochemically reacting a fuel and an oxidizing agent, the electricity generating unit including: a first separator; a second separator; a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) between the first separator and the second separator, each of the first and second separators including a channel on a surface facing the MEA and a manifold in the surface facing the MEA, the manifold communicating with the channel; and a gasket, positioned at an outer circumference portion of an area where the MEA is positioned, for sealing a space between the first and second separators and for covering an open area of a channel extension area of at least one of the first and second separators where the manifold communicates with the channel.

Abstract: An air-breathing fuel cell stack including: a membrane electrode assembly that includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte disposed therebetween; a fuel supplier coupled to the anode, to supply fuel to the anode; a cathode current collector coupled to the cathode; a cathode end plate to support the cathode current collector; and a filter positioned between the cathode current collector and the cathode end plate, to control the moisture content of the membrane electrode assembly.

Abstract: A fuel supply device for direct methanol fuel cells includes a fuel tank for storing liquid fuel, a wick structure formed on the fuel tank, the wick structure for receiving the liquid fuel from the fuel tank, a sheet stack disposed on the wick structure, the sheet stack for absorbing and transferring, in an upward direction, the liquid fuel supplied to the wick structure, and an electrode plate disposed on the sheet stack for supplying, in an upward direction, the liquid fuel absorbed into the sheet stack. The fuel supply device may continuously and uniformly supply a proper amount of liquid fuel and effectively remove by-products generated in a fuel cell. Thus, a long life, efficient fuel cell may be created with the fuel supply device.

Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system including: a fuel cell unit; a fuel cartridge; and a fuel actuator that is disposed between the fuel cartridge and the fuel cell unit, to control the fuel supply from the fuel cartridge to the fuel cell unit. The fuel cell unit comprises: a stack including unit cells oriented in parallel to one another; a phase change layer disposed adjacent to the stack and having a length perpendicular to the parallel orientation of the unit cells; a fuel diffusion layer disposed on the phase change layer.

Abstract: A direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) comprising: a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) including an anode, a cathode, and a membrane disposed therebetween; a spacer surrounding the anode, having supply holes to supply methanol to the anode; and a flow control member to control the supply of the methanol. The flow control member includes a porous support and/or a methanol transmissive layer. The methanol transmissive layer comprises a fluorine polymer, a hydrocarbon polymer, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack induces smooth current collection and liquid or gas flow without using a heavy bipolar plate. The fuel cell stack includes: a membrane and electrode assembly (MEA) in which an electrolyte membrane is disposed between a cathode electrode and an anode electrode; a current collector disposed in the MEA to form an electrical path with an adjacent MEA; and a non-conductive separation plate disposed between the MEA and the adjacent MEA, the non-conductive separation plate forming flow channels to supply a liquid or gas to the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. A fuel cell stack structure having the above structure is simple and lightweight as the MEA includes a thin and lightweight non-conductive polymer separation plate and a current collector to connect adjacent MEAs.

Abstract: A semiconductor equipment control system and method is provided. The semiconductor equipment control system preferably includes semiconductor equipment having a process recipe stored therein and a host connected to the semiconductor equipment through a network. The host preferably includes a database in which a reference recipe is stored and is preferably configured to receive and compare a final modification time of the process recipe with a final modification time of the reference recipe. When the final modifications times are equal, the host is preferably configured to instruct the semiconductor equipment to perform a process according to the process recipe. When the final modification times are different, the host is preferably configured to check a recipe body of the process recipe against a recipe body of the reference recipe to determine if the process recipe is within an established tolerance.

Abstract: Provided a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stack with at least two cell units. Each cell unit includes: a catalyzed membrane formed by catalyzing both surfaces of an electrolyte layer; a fuel flow field portion and air flow field portion formed at opposite surfaces of the catalyzed membrane, at least one of the fuel and air flow field portions comprising a parallel flow field which induces gas flow in a direction parallel to the surface of the catalyzed membrane and an orthogonal flow field which induces gas flow in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the catalyzed membrane; a bipolar plate in contact with each outer surface of the fuel flow region portion and the air flow region portions. The volume and weight of the entire fuel cell stack can be flexibly reduced by adjusting the number of cell units. In addition, a defective cell unit can be easily replaced without performance degradation in the cell stack. The use of bipolar plates as electrodes promotes gas flow.

Abstract: A bipolar plate and a fuel cell using the same are provided. The bipolar plate includes a flow field that has a length between three and eight times greater than the square of the area of the bipolar plate. The fuel cell includes a first bipolar plate in which a fuel flow field having a length that is between three and eight times greater than the square of the area of the first bipolar plate is formed, and a second bipolar plate in which an air flow field having a length that is between three and eight times greater than the spare of the area of the second bipolar plate is formed. The fuel cell has a lower, uniform internal pressure and can produce a greater power.

Abstract: A planar type fuel cell is provided. The planar type fuel cell has a membrane electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane and an anode, and a cathode, and a plate attached to the cathode of the membrane electrode assembly to supply water to the cathode by condensing water vapor generated from the cathode.

Abstract: A monopolar membrane-electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane with a plurality of cell regions, an anode supporting body and a cathode supporting body on both sides of the electrolyte membrane, respectively having a plurality of apertures corresponding to the cell regions, a plurality of anode and cathode current collectors, each including a current collecting portion to correspond to each aperture of the respective anode or cathode supporting body to collect current, a conducting portion connected to a side of the current collecting portion, and a connecting line that connects the conducting portion to an outside terminal, a plurality of anode and cathode electrodes respectively formed on the and the cathode current collecting portions, and a circuit unit connected to the connecting lines of the anode current collectors and the cathode current collectors, wherein the cells are connected in series or parallel, or electrically separated through the circuit unit.

Abstract: Provided is an air breathing direct methanol fuel cell pack including membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) forming a plurality of single cells having an electrolyte membrane, a plurality of anodes on a first plane of the electrolyte membrane and a plurality of cathodes on a second plane of the electrolyte membrane correspondingly to the anodes, the second plane being opposed to the first plane, a fuel supply unit storing fuel fed to the anodes and having fuel supply plates with a plurality of fuel supply holes through which the fuel passes, and wicking sheets provided along a fuel supply path between the fuel supply plates and the MEAs, diffusing the fuel supplied through the fuel supply plates to supply the fuel to the anodes of the MEAs. fuel can be evenly supplied throughout MEAs, thereby attaining uniform power output, irrespective of a use posture of a cell pack.